Tag: February 2026

Slow Launch Tempo Clouds Long-Term Role of Space Launch System

Ars Technica reports, “The Space Launch System rocket program is now a decade and a half old, and it continues to be dominated by two unfortunate traits: It is expensive, and it is slow. The massive rocket and its convoluted ground systems, so necessary to baby and cajole the booster’s prickly hydrogen propellant on board, have cost US taxpayers in excess of $30 billion to date. And even as it reaches maturity, the rocket is going nowhere fast.”

Full Story (Ars Technica)

Resilient Student Scholarship Empowers Future Aerospace Researcher

FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA and Club for the Future’s Resilient Student Scholarship supports students interested in pursuing a degree in aerospace. The recipient of the 2025 $10,000 AIAA and Club for the Future Resilient Student Scholarship, Robert Morris, is a bright star in his first year at Howard University.

Building Transatlantic Ties: AIAA Advances Collaboration Across Germany

FROM THE INSTITUTE
In January, an AIAA delegation traveled across Germany to strengthen institutional partnerships, engage with student branches, and connect with organizations shaping the future of aerospace innovation. The three-day visit spanned Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Munich, underscoring the value of collaboration across industry, academia, and the next generation of aerospace leaders.

Boeing Targets South Carolina for 787 Engineering Expansion

Economic Times reports, “Boeing plans to move approximately 300 787 engineering jobs from Washington state to South Carolina as production ramps up, according to the union representing its engineers. This move comes as Boeing’s contracts with 16,000 engineering union members in Washington are set to expire in October.”

Full Story (Economic Times)

House Committee Endorses Commercial Path for Future Deep Space Program

Ars Technica reports, “A US House committee with oversight of NASA unanimously passed a “reauthorization” act for the space agency on Wednesday. The legislation must still be approved by the full House before being sent to the Senate, which may take up consideration later this month.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)

Boeing Unveils 787 Upgrades Aimed at Range and Capacity Gains

Simple Flying reports, “American plane-maker Boeing will improve the already hugely successful 787 Dreamliner, with increased cargo capacity and/or longer range for the 787-9 and 787-10 variants. This announcement, as reported by Reuters, was shared by a senior executive at Boeing on Wednesday at the Singapore Airshow.”
Full Story (Simple Flying)

SpaceX Grounds Falcon 9 After Upper Stage Deorbit Issue

SpaceX has temporarily grounded its Falcon 9 rocket after an upper stage failed to deorbit as planned during a Feb. 2 launch. As SPACE reports, “‘Teams are reviewing data to determine root cause and corrective actions before returning to flight,’ SpaceX said via X on Monday evening, in a post that announced the rocket’s grounding.”

Full Story (SPACE)

Boeing Eyes Global Growth for T-7A, Prioritizes U.S. Air Force Commitments

Aviation Week reports, “Boeing sees opportunities growing for its T-7A Red Hawk trainer internationally, but first things first: meeting the USAF’s timeline that has continued to slip. The company has delivered two T-7s to the U.S. Air Force’s first training base as part of a restructured program to get the aircraft in test.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Persistent Hydrogen Leaks Push Artemis II Launch to March

Ars Technica reports, “The launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission will have to wait another month after a fueling test Monday uncovered hydrogen leaks in the connection between the rocket and its launch platform at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ‘Engineers pushed through several challenges during the two-day test and met many of the planned objectives,’ NASA said in a statement following the conclusion of the mock countdown.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)

Lockheed’s AI Factory: Turning a “Digital Thread” Into a Battle-Ready Advantage

FROM THE INSTITUTE
A new AI platform that provides defense-grade security across environments is now available from Lockheed Martin, which has created a subsidiary to manage it. Astris AI provides the company’s AI Factory, offering an all-in-one operating model for all users. Companies or agencies that use it get access to the full arsenal of AI components available at the nation’s largest defense contractor.